Friday, June 27, 2008

We stayed at the Lygon Arms, which was very nice. The cobblestone from when it was a livery, above. Below is the view from the stairs leading to our room.

This picture is of our rooms - one door leading to two doors inside the little hallway. Breakfast 9:30, lots to eat! I got a Full English Breakfast (black pudding, eggs, ham, fried bread, tomato, etc.), Mom and Dad got fish! Below is Addie in the courtyard.Above pictured is the view from the breakfast room into our rooms; that's me standing on the balcony. Addie got a nap in while we got ready. Walked around this quaint town (misting)...Cool St. James church, below... (I love the scene below overlooking the old gravestones hearing the sheep bleeting in a pasture nearby...it felt like some Jane Austen scenery.)...old almhouses (below)......and market hall, below.

I can't remember what this building was (above), but it was in the center of town so probably important for some reason.

2 – left for Broadway, drove @, tourist info and then drinks to make plans. Below is the church...

Then to the Church of St. Eadburgha (12th Century), pictures below...

See above how there are steps up to the wall and same on the other side? I think that's before they had the gate and this was how they entered the churchyard without letting sheep/cows in or out.

Then I hiked up hill to Broadway Tower and M, D, and A drove up. LOVED THE HIKE! Makes me want to hike the Cotswalds, or the AT. Below is an example of the many sheep/cow gates that they have for you to go over. I liked this sheep/lamb alot.

These walls were everywhere, and reminded me of the walls in Franklin, TN which I think were built by Civil War soldiers. Maybe they came from the Cotswalds!

They even had benches at this overlook - obviously a well-loved view of the valley below. And pictured below is Broadway Tower, built by some guy as his "folly" - not really any style or purpose other than to show off his wealth. Dad took this picture of me in front of the tower.

@ 4:30 - Up to Broadwell, a little town – ok. Just passed thru Stow-on-the-Wold. no pics.

@ 5:45 – Lower Slaughter. Started to rain, but was a cute little town, little river going thru w/ low-lying bridges. Old Mill was closing down.

The Old Mill had a tea room and picnic tables outside. Obviously the ducks were well trained that people gave them crumbs, because soon after we got out there, here they come downstream. The owners even made a little ramp for them!

On the way to Upper Slaughter we passed this huge manor/farm/estate. Very posh!

Upper Slaughter, drove @ - wish it wasn’t raining! Below... 6:30 – Bourton-on-the-Water. Book says it’s too touristy, and obviously could be but not today in the rain! Cute town, pretty bridges over river thru town. Tried Dial House for dinner, but booked. So went to Rose Tree – great mushrooms in cheese sauce! and duck.

Drove through Northleach, which seemed to be a cute little village. We would have liked to have stopped at the Roman Villa out of town, but it was closed and we needed to get to our hotel for the night. On to Cirencester, formerly known as Corinium under Roman times. 2nd most important city to London. Drove through the town center on our way to Ewen (view Saturday for pictures), to stay at the Wild Duck Inn (pictures Saturday). Built in the 16th century – cool pub/restaurant to the left, rooms to the right. Put Addie down – she was very much ready for bed, w/out getting much of a nap at all today! We hit the pub to plan out our route tomorrow, while Dad smoked in courtyard.